If I bought a telescope will I be able to use it in New York City?

Question

Could all the city lights not allow me to see the stars if I bought a expensive $340 telescope? http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/refracting-telescopes/ioptronsmartstargr80gotogpsrefractortelescope.cfm

Answer 1

1. Yes. Wherever you're located, you will be able to see the Sun, Moon, planets, and many double stars. If you're located away from midtown, you should be able to see a lot more. I actually saw Comet Hale-Bopp for the first time from a hotel just south of Columbus Circle!



2. $340 is not an "expensive telescope." In fact it's about the cheapest good telescope you can buy. Anything cheaper than that is just a children's toy.



[Edit] There's a common misconception that smaller telescopes are better in the city. It just isn't so. Aperture is primary wherever you observe. I observed for years from downtown Toronto, population 6 million, using 8- to 12-inch telescopes.

Answer 2

What you have seems to be a nice "city telescope". Yes, you will be able to see enough "things" to enjoy astronomy.

I dare say that you could nab the globular cluster M-13 in Hercules (not clearly as in pictures, but you could still [barely] see it from the city as a tiny ball of fuzz). The problem will be to find it, since the fainter stars of Hercules might be difficult to spot (and you need those to know where to look).



Sure, there are things that you will not see easily. A nebula, for example, requires a dark sky, not because they are small (and they are) but because the often offer less contrast with the background.

So, if your "background" is lit up by light-pollution, you get no contrast.



That telescope has the advantage of being light and relatively easy to set up. And if ever, once in a while, you want to escape the city to a darker spot, it is quite easy to transport.

Answer 3

An 80mm scope is a bad choice for the city. Most of the objects in the GoTo database will not be visible from the city, and many won't be visible because 80mm is just too small even from dark skies. The short focal ratio for a simple achromatic lens will mean that the scope will not perform well at high power on planets as the images will have soft edges and rainbow fringing.



You are better off with a non-computerized 8" scope. You may not find as many things in the city, but what you will see will be seen better.



http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/p/102005.uts?refineByCategoryId=13



The minimum acceptable size for a computerized telescope, especially in the city is 6". But that will be above (in most cases well above) your budget.

Answer 4

Well, ..., as long as you use it to view the heavens and not peer into you neighbor's apartment. That would be an invasion of privacy and could land you in jail.



There's no secret that NYC has a massive light pollution problem. However, you can see major celestial objects there like the Moon, Sun, and brightest Planets. Or you can go on a camping trip out of the city and observe under darker skies.



Finally, the scope has a fairly tiny aperture. 80mm is not going to grant you a lot of objects to view anyway. If you're interested in a better scope (without the goto capability) for only $300 check out the following link.



http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes-with-Free-Shipping/Orion-SkyQuest-XT6-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/398/p/102004.uts?refineByCategoryId=398

Answer 5

First of all the telescope you are looking at is not very big. It is a cheap 80 mm refractor. It does not have much light capturing power. iOptron SmartStar R80 has plenty of electronics but very little real telescope. You will be able to see moon, little bit of rings around Saturn, a little of Jupiter and that's all about it.



For any serious observing of night sky you need at least 8 inches (200 mm) aperture (diameter). You can also think of buying a special filter called light pollution filter. That will help you see better in New York.

Answer 6

You won't be able to see any but the most prominent celestial objects within the city due to the light pollution and atmospheric pollution. You may, however, get some outstanding candid views among the thousands of apartment windows visible from your location.

Answer 7

The city lights will of course be a problem, but you still will be able to use it on solar system objects like the Moon and brighter planets. I have spent more than $340 on a single eyepiece.

Answer 8

You would have to travel far to see the stars well.

Looking at this map

http://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/overlay/dark.html

I think the shortest drive just to get to the light green zone (which is not bad, but not great) is probably to take Hwy 17 to Roscoe, NY.

Answer 9

Thats not expensive.Real telescopes cost atleast 2000 dollars.You just have a little toy for fun.And you can look at the stars and planets even from the city.

Answer 10

Well you can try to search for the sun. Good luck with it though.